Google spent years working on the augmented reality hardware known as Tango. There have been two consumer phones with Tango so far, neither of which has been a great experience. However, the company recently showed off augmented reality content running on Pixel phones without Tango hardware. It didn't have a timeline for making AR stickers available, but today appears to be the day. An update to AR core has appeared in the Play Store and the AR Stickers app is live.

ARCore is based on the work Google's been doing with Tango, but it doesn't require the same special hardware from Tango. That means it can work with "regular" Android devices. Google is first targeting the Pixels and Samsung Galaxy S8 with ARCore content, but other OEMs are also in the mix.

The AR Stickers app is now available in the Play Store, which plugs into the Pixel camera app. Just open the nav menu on the left, and tap "AR Stickers." It comes with content from Star Wars, Stranger Things, some weird food characters, the letter A (for some reason), and more. There's not a ton of content, but the stickers remain in place better than I was expecting. The AR stickers also interact with each other when you place them near each other. I got the Demogorgon to scream at R2-D2, so that's a thing now.

We've got the updated ARCore framework and the AR Stickers app on APK Mirror, but they should appear in the Play Store now as well. Note, you need Android 8.1 on your Pixel to use ARCore's new stickers.

Comments

Doesn't work well with placing objects near you, works a lot better in a large room setting.
Also, after a few minutes, time to uninstall and disable both apps.

rmkilc

Uninstall and disable??

Pedro

Can't be too careful.

rmkilc

Reminds me of "new and improved".

Suicide_Note

Might as well nuke it from orbit, just to be sure.

nxtiak

For system apps, it's built in and updated via play store, so you uninstall the updated version, then disable the original left over app.
Though for AR Core and AR Stickers via play store it shows I can only update though I can't find it in my list of system apps to disable.
EDIT: AR Core is listed as Google AR Core in system apps and you can disable it. Disabling it removes the AR Sticker option in the Camera app.

After I sideloaded the OTA and manually updated the apps, it intermittently appeared and disappeared in my camera app several times before finally remaining (thus far). I never figured out why, but it's working for me presently.

Jordan L

I'm not seeing it either.... rebooting now. Pixel 2 XL 8.1

Michael Kennedy

The "A" is for text. Add the letter and it'll ask you to type out your text. That just wasn't a very good UI choice.

Suicide_Note

I was confused at first, too, until i dragged the A into the viewfinder to see what it did.

If only Google didn't mess up the check for update button on Android... I guess I'll keep waiting.

Franklin Ramsey

Same here. I don't want to have to sideload the OTA.

G-man

Why? It takes less than 10min.

Franklin Ramsey

Partially, because I feel entitled and I shouldn't have to. If an update is released, you should be able to check the check for update button and have it work. I can understand staged roll-outs, but that should be for users that don't click the check for update button, let that push out over a week or two.

KanishkSingh

Check for update button will be fix next year with the Google play services sucks they broke it. Use to work perfectly

Franklin Ramsey

I guess I'm just upset that my wife's phone has already received the update and my phone has not. We got the two phones on the same day and activated them within minutes of each other. I just feel two phones activated at the same time should get the update at the same time, or I should be able to check for update and get the update if it is available.

selonmoi

I just got the updates on my Pixel, and immediately filled my office with droids. Cute!

Cool feature but I'm worried about heat issues since my pixel 2 xl definitely overheated after just a few minutes of filming. Hope a future update will take care of that since I don't want to ruin my phone.

WORPspeed

Well thank you Google.....When the Fuck am I getting my OTA to 8.1?
What the fuck is the point of having a Pixel 2 when it doesn't update!*

*a lot actually, I'm just currently pissed off that I can't enjoy this yet

ctk4949

Sideload it, its ez pz!!

WORPspeed

Done...had no idea it was that simple....I remember it being this simple on the Nexus, then they changed something and it required a unlocked bootloader and now it doesn't anymore? Maybe it never did, but either way I'm pleasantly surprised that it works so easily now! Almost makes up for the broken 'Check for updates' button :p

It doesnot support in moto g5 plus. also tried to install apk from apkmirror.
please help

Caleb Martin

It's a fun toy; I like how they turn their head to track you or turn around if you get behind them. The stormtooper is best, it's cool how he'll put out his hand and tell you to stop if you walk up to him. Unfortunately, they have him wait too long, so you have to almost walk into him to trigger it, and his hand gesture happens off screen.

Nope.
Got it today as update via Play Store on my stock OG Pixel XL with 8.1 received via OTA.

Chris Foote

I have it on stock Pixel 2 XL (Project Fi, 8.1).

Jordan L

someone needs to make a list of all the characters that interact with each other... I put the sleepy coffee cup on someone's desk... not sure if it's interactive or just animated.

Chris Foote

Welcome to a hint of the near future, folks! (Think this, running through a Google Glass-type device, then, eventually, a contact lens/eye implant!) Gonna be a whole new world. :)

JG

ARCore is based on the work Google's been doing with Tango, but it doesn't require the same special hardware from Tango. That means it can work with "regular" Android devices. Google is first targeting the Pixels and Samsung Galaxy S8 with ARCore content, but other OEMs are also in the mix.

I'd love to see Google expand their ARCore enabled device list... Specifically, I would like to see a new Google Glass...

They could potentially partner with Niantic (a former Google division that spun off a few years back as their own company) to coincide with the launch of Ingress Prime. I think it'd be kind of cool to be able to walk around,looking up ahead of you, rather than down at the phone all day, and to be able to actually see the portals "in real life", like they're shown on the videos. You capture the statue and it's aura turns from grey to [blue/green]... It might help to reduce the number of traffic accidents... If your looking ahead you're more likely to realize your about to walk across the street than if you were looking down focused on the phone.

Robin Tedesco

Is there a way to download other sticker packs?? I'm having way too much fun with this on my new pixel 2!

Jim

The phone's camera is awesome. The 30 second video is using the newly released AR camera... I think the possibilities are endless.... Can't wait for more...https://youtu.be/oFp-wg7XD98